University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Nebraska
No. 53 Nebraska Nets Win Over UNI, 4-1
2/22/2014 1:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Northern Iowa women's tennis team went toe-to-toe against the No. 53-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday at the Nebraska Tennis Center.
The Panthers came up on the short end of a 4-1 decision but pushed the Big Ten's Cornhuskers in all stages of the matchup.
Nebraska (5-3 overall) won the No. 2 doubles match as Izabella Zgierska and Maike Zeppernick scored an 8-3 win over UNI's Elvira Lopez and Astrid Santos.
But the Panthers nearly took the doubles point with strong play at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Nebraska's Lisa Andersson and Hannah Sulz pulled out an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles over UNI's Krissy Lankelma and Sydney Wolfe to clinch the doubles point for the Panthers. UNI's Erica Medlin and Jieke Stroobant had an 8-7 lead at No. 1 doubles over Nebraska's Mary Hanna and Maggy Lehmicke before the match was ended because of the Huskers claiming the doubles point.
"We came out slow today in doubles and it cost us," UNI head coach Daniel Finn said. "Against a team like Nebraska you cannot afford a slow start. Now to our teams credit, we fought really hard after the start and refused to give up until the end. Overall, it was a tight match and the outcome was definitely up in the air for a long time. You have to be focused and strong from the beginning. We will learn from it and show up ready to fight tomorrow against Air Force."
UNI's No. 6 seed Sydney Wolfe recorded a 6-4, 6-1 win over Lauren Wagner to give the Panthers their first point of the match.
Nebraska's No. 1 player Magge Lehmicke, who is ranked No. 80 in the ITA singles rankings, had her hands full with UNI's Jieke Stroobant. Lehmicke led 6-3, 4-2 when the match was called after the Huskers clinched the dual victory.
UNI's Astrid Santos won a first-set tiebreaker at No. 4 singles vs. Nebraska's Lisa Andersson, 7-6. But the duo did not get to finish their match either.
UNI (5-5 overall) will be in action again on Sunday at 11 a.m. against the Air Force Academy in Lincoln.
Players Mentioned
